Gun and gun-carriage



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

1). M. MEPPORD.

GUN AND GUN CARRIAGE. No. 252,488. Patented Jan. 17,1882.

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- (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

11. MEFPORD. GUN AND GUN CARRIAGE.

No. 252,488. Patented Jan. 17,1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID M. MEFFORD, OF TOLEDO, OH'lO.

GUN AND GUN-CARRIAGE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 252,488, dated January 17, 1882.

Application filed December 14, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. MEFFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Guns and Gun-Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carriages for siege and naval guns in which the gun'is arranged to slide upon the adjustable tilting frame,and in which,asthe gun recoils, it is met'by an elastic resistance, which serves to take up the shock.

The objects of my invention are to simplify and improve the means for admitting of the sliding movement of the gun upon a tilting frame, and also to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the slidable gun, the tilting frame for supporting it, and the clastic resistance for taking up the shock incident to the recoil and for throwing the gun forward after the recoil. These objects I attain by means of the devices illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure lis apian view of the gun and a hori zoutal sectional view of the adjustable tilting frame resting on its trunnions in the stationary foundation in the lower part of the carriage. Fig.2 is a central longitudinal section with the gun shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through one of the side bars of the adjustable frame, and Fig. 4 is a like view through oneof Said bars and one of the air-compressing cylinders.

Referring by letter to the drawings,A indicates the standards ofa strong metal framecomposingthecarriageorfoundationforsupporting the weight of the gun and the adjustable tilting frame in which the gun is mounted. This carriageor foundation will be braced bymeans of suitable tie-rods-as, for example, as indicated in section at a a, Fig. 2--and it is adapted to be rigidly secured to the ground or deck or other suitable foundation by means of appropriate fasteningdevices, which can be arranged so that the carriage can be swung round when desired. The upper horizontal portion of this carriage is formed with :bearings for the trunnions b b of the adjustable tilting frame, the said trunnions being fitted to articulate and turn about their axes in these hearings, and being held down by suitable cap-plates, 0 as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

(No model.)

The tilting frame B comprises two parallel metal side bars, 7), between which the gun is arranged to slide, these side bars being provided with trunnions, as aforesaid, and rigidly connected together by the curved cross-bars O, which pass under the gun. To admit of the longitudinally sliding movement of the gun within this tilting frame and in a line coincident with the axis of its bore, and also to support the gun upon the carriage, I cast the gun with the longitudinal flanges or ledges D on opposite sides, and in the inner walls of the side bars of the tilting frame 1 form horizontal recesses E, which receive the side flanges of the gun. These recesses or channels are each of greater length than the flange which it receives, so as to admitof the gun beingthrown backward by the recoil, or moved forward after the explosion, by the means of the resistance, against which the recoil has backed the gun.

The resistance to the recoil of the gun is in the nature of an elastic cushion formed by means of compressed air within two cylinders, F, that are secured to the side bars of the earriage and provided with the piston G, the rods 9 of which extend forward and are connected in any suitable way with the side flanges of the gun. At themoment of recoil the pistons thus held in rigid connection with the gun will be driven backward within their respective cylinders, and hence forcibly compress the air therein. The compressed air within the cylinders constituteselastic cushions, which receive and take up the shock of the recoil, and which, after the explosion, drive the pistons toward the front ends of their respective cylinders, and hence move the gun forward until the side flanges of the latter abutagainst the elastic bumpers H, arranged at the front ends of the grooves in the frame.

The openings in the cylinder-heads through which the pistons pass have each a greater a-reathan the diameter of thepiston-rod; or the cylinders can be entirely open at such ends, so that when the air within the cylinder is compressed at one side of the piston there will be no tendency to create a vacuum in the cylinder at the opposite side of the piston.

1 indicates inwardly opening valves, with which the pistons are provided, so that as the pistons move forward the valves will open and allow the inflow of air into the cylinders, thereby compensating for any leakage which may have occurred.

It'will be obvious that practically the same effect could be obtained by creating a partial vacuum within the cylinders instead of compressing the air, as'j ustdescribed. In such case the piston-rod could work through a stuffingbox at the front end of the cylinder, and an outwardly-opening valve be provided at the rear end of the latter, and, if preferred, the cylinders could be arranged in front of the flanges of the gun instead of at the rear of the same, as herein shown, and suitable valves be provided, so that the pistons will operate to create a vacuumwithin the cylinder when they are driven back by the recoil;

K indicates the elevating-screw, which will be connected with the rear end of the tilting frame, so as to tilt and adjust the latter for the purpose of righting the gun.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the foundation of the carriage supporting the tilting frame does not'rest on trucks unless provision is made for locking said trucks, but is held solidlyon the ground or deck by any suitable means, and hence movement on the part of such foundation part of the carriage, which would have a tendency to throw the gun laterally off its desired point-blank range by the recoil at the ignition of the powder before the ball or projectile has time to reach the muzzle, will be avoided, it being understood that this tendency to throw the gun laterally occurs in firing all ordnance, especiallywhen the muzzle of the piece is elevated.

As before mentioned, the elevatingscrew will be connected with the tilting frame. Such connection can be made by passing the screw through the-curved cross-bar at the rear end of the tilting frame and upon the upper end of the screw receiving a head or nut. By this means the frame can be tilted with a positive firing ot' the gun completely avoided.

It will be seen that but one piston and cylinder could be employed, although I prefer to use two, as herein illustrated.

What I claim is- The combination of he gun formed with the longitudinal flanges D, which are rigid with the-gun and on opposite sides thereof, with the adjustable tilting frame having in the inner 'side of its longitudinal timbers the channels receiving said flanges, and also pneumatic butfers behind and elastic buffers in front of said flanges, whereby the gun will be guided and steadied \vhile s iding in a line coincident with the line of its caliber, and at the same time be prevented from tilting independently of the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

D. M. MEFFORD.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. Noams, JAMES A. RU HERFORD.

movement and all vibrat on incident to the 

